Welcome to Trouble Free Pool

We would like to welcome you to TFP, the webs leading Pool related website. We invite you to please Register to create a new account. Doing this will give you full access to the forums, where you will be able to receive personalized advice concerning your pool. We hope to see you soon!

Replace Leaky Vinyl Liner: Now or in the Spring?

Hi. I've got a in-ground pool that needs a new liner. In part this is due to general wear, so I've been planning on it in the next year anyway. But the timetable has moved up as I've recently developed two leaks. One was huge, and I found and patched it. The other is smaller, roughly 1/2-1" day, and I can't find it. But it is definitely more than 3 feet deep, since my water has now drained below the shallow end.

So I can either try to squeeze in a replacement now before it gets too cold (I'm not even sure if I still can, since I'm north of Boston) or wait until the spring. My concern is that if I wait, the pool will be mostly empty during the winter. How big a risk is this to the pool structure? Any suggestions?

Re: Replace Leaky Vinyl Liner: Now or in the Spring?

I don't like doing liners in the fall do to the cold weather making the vinyl hard to work with and stiff. I like doing them in the early spring do to the better weather. Although you may risk damage to the pool if the pool is left drained. The walls could buckle inwards or you pool bottom could be damaged if exposed to the elements with out a layer of protection.

Re: Replace Leaky Vinyl Liner: Now or in the Spring?

Thanks for the advice. I had assumed the leak was around the stairs, since it's an old liner and there is evidence that it has pulled away around the stair seams. But the water dropped below the seam and kept dropping for another 4 inches before seeming to stabilize. I've looked around the entire pool at the level where the water stopped leaking and can't find anything that could possibly be the leak. The big hole that I patched is still about 2 feet below the water, so I'm pretty sure I patched it well enough.

With the three day weekend coming up I'm going to put a few additional inches of water in the pool and measure it twice a day to see if I can convince myself I really understand what is going on. It's been tough over the last two weeks due to lots of rain, and my not being at home enough to track the water level daily.

If the water level stays about 3 feet down, is there a serious risk of damaging the walls?

Re: Replace Leaky Vinyl Liner: Now or in the Spring?

Originally Posted by waste

Welcome to TFP!!

Do you have a light?

Dave and Kevin are giving you great advice

Just to clarify.....

If you have a light and the water stops draining at some level on the light lens but doesn't go down any more it is a high probability that the leak is where the power line goes through the wall at the back of bucket. Easy, fast fix. Still could be around the light though. If so the water level might stop to the bottom of light or a tiny more and then stop draining.

I had a major leak at back of light bucket. I tested with light still in niche. with red dye, but the test didn't show a leak until I took the light out of the niche. I was losing much more than a foot of water a day.

Re: Replace Leaky Vinyl Liner: Now or in the Spring?

Please let us know if you have taken any action.

Scott
PoolGuyNJ

Owner of - PoolGuyNJ LLC
Expert Pool and Spa Repairs, Renovations, and Augmentation. Helping people decide what is the right gear for meeting their needs. Expectations Set, Expectations Met, No Surprises.